German
Hallo!
Learning a language is one of the most valuable experiences you can hope to acquire during your lifetime. Students embark on an engaging journey that covers essential language skills such as speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Learning German promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and memory skills, which are essential for academic success. Furthermore, proficiency in German offers significant advantages in future career prospects, especially in fields such as international business, diplomacy, tourism, and translation. Multilingualism is highly valued in the global job market, and the ability to communicate in German can set students apart, enhancing their employability and opening doors to diverse and rewarding career opportunities.
We encourage our students to take part in a range of competitions in German such as the Oxford University German Olympiad and the Manchester Metropolitan University Mother Tongue Other Tongue poetry competition.
Key Stage 3
Course Overview
The Key Stage 3 (KS3) German curriculum is designed to foster a deep appreciation for the German language and culture. Through interactive lessons, students explore a variety of topics, including everyday life, hobbies, school, and travel, which help them build a solid foundation in German. Our curriculum also emphasizes cultural awareness, allowing students to gain insights into German traditions, festivals, and history. By the end of KS3, students are well-prepared to continue their language studies at a higher level, equipped with the confidence and skills to communicate effectively in German.
What can I do to support my child?
We provide students with work booklets to access a range of listening, reading, writing and speaking resources. Students have logins to linguascope and are also encouraged to use KS3 German BBC Bitesize.
How will students be assessed?
There will be end of unit assessment approximately each half term which assesses the key components of that unit and their ability to apply their knowledge. In addition to this, there are low stakes vocabulary tests in lessons which allow students to recall and apply their knowledge.
Key Stage 4 (GCSE)
Exam Board and details
Exam Board: AQA German (8662)
Specification:
Course Overview
The aim of the GCSE German course is to challenge students and help them make significant progress in their language learning journey. The course covers three main themes: People and lifestyle, Popular culture, and Communication and the world around us. It emphasizes the development of key language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—through a variety of engaging and interactive activities. Students will be assessed through a combination of written exams and non-exam assessments, including listening comprehension, speaking tasks, and written assignments. The course encourages students to use clear and comprehensible language, undertake role-plays, and engage in conversations about visual stimuli. By focusing on practical communication and cultural understanding, the GCSE German course not only enhances linguistic competence but also fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and confidence in using the language in real-life situations. This rigorous approach ensures that students are well-prepared for further language studies and future career opportunities in a globalized world.
There is an optional exchange visit in Year 10 to Bergisch Gladbach in Germany. This enables students to put their language learning into practice in a real-life context.
How will students be assessed?
There will be an end of unit assessment approximately each half term which assesses the key components of that unit and their ability to apply their knowledge. In addition to this, there are low stakes vocabulary tests in lessons which allow students to recall and apply their knowledge.
The GCSE exam consists of four exams:
Paper 1: Listening
What's assessed
• Understanding and responding to spoken extracts
• Dictation of short, spoken extracts
How it's assessed
• Written exam: 45 minutes (Higher tier)
• 50 marks (Higher tier)
• 25% of GCSE
Questions
• Section A – listening comprehension questions in English, to be answered in English or
non-verbally (40 marks at Higher tier)
• Section B – dictation where students transcribe short sentences (10 marks at Higher tier)
Paper 2: Speaking
What's assessed
• Speaking using clear and comprehensible language to undertake a Role-play
• Carry out a Reading aloud task
• Talk about visual stimuli
How it's assessed
• 10–12 minutes (Higher tier) + 15 minutes' supervised preparation time
• 50 marks
• 25% of GCSE
Questions
• Role-play – 10 marks (recommended to last between 1 and 1.5 minutes)
• Reading aloud task and short conversation – 15 marks (recommended to last in total
between 3 and 3.5 minutes at Higher tier)
• Reading aloud task: minimum 50 words at Higher tier
• Short unprepared conversation
• Photo card discussion – 25 marks (recommended to last between 6 and 7 minutes in total at Higher tier)
• Response to the content of the photos on the card (recommended to last 1.5 minutes at Higher tier)
• Unprepared conversation (recommended to last between 4.5 and 5.5 minutes at Higher tier)
Paper 3: Reading
What's assessed
• Understanding and responding to written texts which focus predominantly on the
vocabulary and grammar at each tier
• Inferring plausible meanings of single words when they are embedded in written sentences
• Translating from German into English
How it's assessed
• Written exam: 1 hour (Higher tier)
• 50 marks
• 25% of GCSE
Questions
• Section A – reading comprehension questions in English, to be answered in English or nonverbally
(40 marks)
• Section B – translation from German into English, minimum of 50 words at Higher tier (10 marks)
Paper 4: Writing
What's assessed
• Writing text in the language in a lexically and grammatically accurate way in response to
simple and familiar stimuli
• Translating from English into German
How it's assessed
• Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher tier)
• 50 marks
• 25% of GCSE
Questions
Higher tier
• Question 1 – translation of sentences from English into German, minimum 50 words in total
(10 marks)
• Question 2 (overlap question) – student produces a piece of writing in response to three
compulsory bullet points, approximately 90 words in total. There is a choice from two
questions (15 marks)
• Question 3 – open-ended writing task (student responds to two bullets, producing
approximately 150 words in total). There is a choice from two questions (25 marks)
Key Stage 5 (A Level)
Exam Board and details
Exam Board: AQA German (7662)
Specification:
AQA | German | A-Level | A-level German
Course Overview
The A Level German course aims to introduce students to new areas of language, culture, literature, film and current affairs. The content spans three core themes: Social issues and trends, Political and artistic
culture, and Literary texts and films. These themes are explored through authentic resources, including articles, essays, and multimedia, which enrich students' understanding and appreciation of German-speaking societies. We develop listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to a high standard of fluency and accuracy, in addition to developing students' abilities in critical analysis, essay writing, and interpretation of literary and cinematic works. You will have the exciting opportunity to conduct an independent research project which you will present during your speaking exams. By engaging with complex topics and producing nuanced arguments, students refine their problem-solving, critical thinking, and independent research skills. Students are encouraged to go beyond the curriculum and explore aspects of German life, such as music, film, current affairs, which interest them. Students receive four teaching periods a week in addition to a small group session with the German language assistant. Proficiency in German at this level significantly boosts career prospects in various fields, such as engineering, science, business and tourism. Employers highly value multilingualism and the cultural competence it brings, positioning students favorably in the global job market.
A Level German students are encouraged to enter competitions such as the Oxford University German Olympiad and the King’s College London Königspost essay writing competition.
How will students be assessed?
Paper 1 assesses grammar, listening, reading, translation and writing skills across all A level topic areas. This is a written examination which is worth 50% of the A level.
Paper 2 assesses the set film and the set novel studied during the course. Two essays are written in German and this paper is worth 20% of the A level.
Paper 3 assesses speaking skills and the Independent Research Project. This is a speaking examination which is worth 30% of the A level.